Master Plan for Burlington Beach under review
Public meeting Tues. Nov. 29, 7-8:30pm, Waterfront Hotel, 2020 Lakeshore Rd
Burlington Beach – should residents be allowed to stay? What’s the alternative?
Should residents living in the Burlington Beach community of Beachway Park on Lakeshore Road be allowed to stay?
That will be a key question during the upcoming review of the Burlington Beach Master Plan. Burlington Beach stretches from the Burlington Canal on our border with Hamilton, up to and including Spencer Smith Park. The area encompasses Beachway Park, the sand bar from Lakeshore/Maple to the canal.
Beachway Park is classified as a regional park, and is jointly governed by Halton Region, Conservation Halton and the City of Burlington.
Current regional policy calls for all private homes on both sides of Lakeshore Road south of the wastewater treatment plant to be purchased and demolished, for parkland. Between 1976 and 1997, 129 properties were acquired. Today, 30 remain in private hands, half on the East (lake) side of Lakeshore Road, and half along the West side of Lakeshore Road.
The area on the shoreline (East) side of Lakeshore Road is a dynamic beach, subject to shifting sand, wave uprush and flooding, and is considered unsafe for habitable buildings. The beach is also home to some rare and uncommon vegetation, which serve to protect the sand dunes from erosion.
The area on the west side of Lakeshore Road is in a flood hazard. Conservation staff are currently working on maps to define the boundary of the flood hazard, and will present those at the November public meeting. Buildings in this area must be floodproofed.
None of the homes have sewer hookups, which has been a challenge for the community and contributed to the deterioration of some of the properties. Cost for sewer hookups is estimated at $80-100,000.
Some homeowners have installed state of the art pumping systems, and poured tens of thousands of dollars into upgrades.
So, should the residents, stay or go? Some want to sell; many want to stay. Our entire community and region will have to weigh the cost of acquiring the properties with the extra parkland that will provide. One the one hand, if the homes weren’t there Lakeshore Road could be rerouted, increasing the shoreline park area. On the other hand, current master plans would allow commercial uses – restaurants or cafes; water-related sales and rental businesses. So why not allow the residents to remain also, for eyes on the street after business hours?
The area is currently designated mixed use in Burlington’s Official Plan, which permits commercial and residential uses.
If the residents stay, sewer hookup would be needed. However, the risk is that once that service ia extended, there will be pressure to redevelop the whole area with higher density residential and/or commercial development, losing the single family cottage home character that exists now.
Given recent Burlington city council decisions allowing extra height and density beyond the Official Plan, the concern is that even with limited zoning in place, inappropriate high density development would inevitably occur.
As the review gets underway, I will be providing additional background and seeking your input on your vision for Beachway Park. The first public meeting is Nov. 29 7pm at the Waterfront Hotel. The purpose of the meeting is to review background information, provide context within policies of various agencies and discuss next steps in proceeding with the Master Plan. For a copy of the PowerPoint presentation presented to the recent Regional Waterfront Parks Advisory Committee, email me a
My take: It’s important to have eyes on the street in the beach, which already has problems with beach parties, camp fires and vandalism. I’m open to exploring a Beachway Plan that would permit some low density residential and commercial uses, especially on the west (non-shoreline) side of Lakeshore Road.
What do you think? Should residents be allowed to stay on the beach? How much retail/commercial/residential development – if any – and what type would you like to see in this area? What’s your vision for the park? Let me know by commenting below or by emailing me .
April 27, 2012 @ 10:20 pm
I am concerned at how peoples homes are considered in such a casual way. We all get sewer connections. In times past people protected their homes with some force. Our political representatives should be careful to let the state take away peoples homes.
GM
December 20, 2011 @ 11:52 am
I loved the beach as a child and would like the opportunity to be attracted back there by restaurants and stores. But I do NOT believe in spending money to repair what is there and would only support low density/low profile housing. If this cannot be guaranteed then I would try to work with what you have now and never allow these homes to be sold to new residents. Also I would never support any building that blocked the view or access to the lake. thanks Lynne
December 12, 2011 @ 12:39 pm
It seems to me that we are avoiding the elephant in the room..the SEWER TREATMENT PLANT. Spend some money on available technology that will eliminate the eye watering odour that makes enjoying the beach impossible. I live within walking distance of the beach strip but take the dog to Confederation Park for our walks. On the few days I did attempt a walk on the Burlington beach strip it reminded me of my time in Mumbai (Bombay)…disgusting !…or is it just me?
November 27, 2011 @ 12:49 pm
Allowed?
Demolished?
After a brief read trying to enjoy a morning coffee I am very challenged by the language and curt approach to my home.
My Home.
Last I checked, some 14 years have past since I, through due process purchased my home as any member of Halton/Canada does.
Tread softly politicians, this little home of mine has many memories of past and many more wonderful ones to come.
Respect.
Patrick (Paddy) Kelly
November 25, 2011 @ 8:02 am
I second Dorothy’s comment about the state of Beachway Park Pavilion. Definitely needs a spruce up … washrooms, showers and state of facilities overall were disgusting this past summer. Doesn’t appear to be any regular maintenance.
As for whether homes should be allowed to stay that are closer to the canal? Let them stay as is. I don’t agree with spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to put in sewers and services at this time. There are other infrastructure projects with higher priority.
Here are some ideas … parking for the beach is a disaster – the parking lots needs to be paved and administered (metered) to generate revenue. There needs to be additional parking (closer to the canal) with a free shuttle bus that travels the beach road transporting people down to the pavilion area. Funds to provide would come from meters. Why doesn’t the pavilion rent umbrellas? $10 for the day with VISA # for deposit. There are so many ways to make this area profitable and better. Why not put in a licensed restaurant / patio down in the beach area too? If that was going in where the homes are now … that would be an improvement, but don’t just gut them to turn them into sand dunes. And plase keep the dogs off the beach and out of the water. That bylaw seldom is enforced.
November 23, 2011 @ 4:53 pm
Marianne:
I’m not clear on exactly which houses the City and the Region want to get rid of. Granted that a couple of the houses at the end of Lakeshore Court, near the lift bridge, are somewhat in need of repair, but the rest of the houses along Lakeshore Road and Lakeshore Court are very well kept, and in fact a couple are relatively new, including the one that’s part of Burlington Furnished Rentals. I cannot imagine that there’s intention to demolish these homes!
Another thought … I walk along the Waterfront Trail, where these houses back on to, very often and I feel safe walking by myself because there are houses and people around. I would not feel as safe if the area was completely without habitation.
I suggest that the City concentrate on fixing up Beachway Park Pavilion. It really needs a good paint job and the washrooms sure could be a lot more pleasant to use.
I do not see any necessity to get rid of the homes along Lakeshore Road and Lakeshore Court.
November 26, 2011 @ 11:00 am
Dorothy, The region’s plan is for ALL the houses to be purchased (willing buyer-willing seller), including the ones you mention above, and removed for the park. There are 30 homes remaining. I agree with your thoughts around the value of “eyes on the street” and its something that needs serious consideration throughout this process.